Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the execution of Ronald Ryan. Just before 8 o’clock on the morning of February 3, 1967, Ryan declined a sedative but took a sip of whisky and walked calmly to the gallows trapdoor at Pentridge Prison.
Ryan addressed his executioner directly, “God bless you, please make it quick.”
Ryan’s supporters and opponents of the death penalty observed a three-minute silence. Protesters assembled outside Pentridge Prison in vigil.
The circumstances of his death at the hands of the state have led to great myth-making about Ryan. He has been variously painted as a bit of a larrikin, driven to crime by circumstance and little worse than a kite flyer (passer of bad cheques).
The truth is he was a career criminal and his crimes before his penultimate arrest, included what we would call today aggravated burglary and robbery in company.
His arresting officer on that occasion was Bryan Harding. I’ve known Harding for many years. He was an outstanding police officer and at various times headed up the Fraud and Homicide squads in Victoria. Harding is retired and now in his 80s; he remembers Ryan as a hardened criminal who showed little or no remorse for his crimes and gave nothing away under questioning.
Full column here.
Turnbull should pull out of the refugee deal. If it goes ahead, Trumper will expect us to send more troops to the Middle East, even invade Iraq again (Trump said America may not be finished there yet. He wants the oil) and even worse, join with the USA in a ship blockade in the South China Sea. Are we ever gonna say NO to the Yanks? Well we haven’t since 1945. Every fight they have been in we have been dragged into…and many that we should not have. It was interesting watching Republicans, White House Officials and ordinary Americans on the news apologising and chastising Trump for not respecting the office of PM. Trumper is a maniac and he should be treated as one.
He’s the POTUS, Bassy. A powerful man. Treating him like a maniac would not be productive. Just the opposite. He wants to be seen to be in control – superman.
As one would with a precocious petulant child, careful diplomacy is needed to get past the initial blustering bullying tactic. He then seems to calm down and get reasonably reasonable.
The world is going to have to get used to his style whilst he’s there.
Yeah, all this hoo-haa about the POTUS Trump blowing up about being saddled with a “horrible”, “dumb deal”, is just that – BS. Trump has probably been the beneficiary of many a “dumb deal” he’ has visited upon his competitors in the past and now he’s pissed because the grand-daddy of dumb deals has come back to bite him bigtime.
And by an Aussie, too.
Time to suck it up Mr POTUS.
Almost sounds like the wrong person got hanged.
Not that I agree with the death penalty by any means.
This bloke got 6yrs for nothing short of murder!
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/kaine-geoffrey-jones-sentenced-for-one-punch-that-killed-graeme-wilton-20170202-gu4jj5.html
Bizarre isn’t it Bassy. Plead guilty to manslaughter and it’s not murder anymore. Just because you saved the courts a bit of time and money. The law is an ass – seems the more money you have the more chance you have of literally ‘getting away with murder’.
There was that Ramage case in Melbourne – wealthy man – he killed his wife, put her in the boot and drove to the country where he buried her – went to a lot of rouble to establish an alibi, hired expensive QC’s and managed to get away with a plea of because the wife was nasty to him. A lot of Melbournians were pissed off with that – especially women.
We have had an ongoing case here – the woman who killed her husband on their yacht and chucked his body into the Derwent. Her appeals to both the Supreme and High Courts was overturned. But a new law has been passed here and we go through another hearing soon. There has been a big play on public sympathy.. I went to the trial out of curiosity. It was quite obvious the judge regarded her as guilty – so did I on what I heard. So did all the courts and she was sentenced to 23 years. But here we go again.
100 years! Want to punch someone? Take your chances. Want to take your shit out on someone? Better go and punch a tree.
Sort of on topic, I had a book years back which I wished i’d kept. I think it was called “The man they couldn’t break” , a biography of William O’Malley, who may have been Australia’s longest serving prisoner. From memory the book covered the Ryan execution as he was a “contemporary” of O’Malley. Anyway, an interesting read about a time when prisons were not the type of place a nice chap would like to wake up in.
The Culleton saga has also been terminated Jack, with The Court of Diputed Returns finding today that he was ineligible to stand in the first place. So now the myriad of options is reduced to one, a recount, and Pauline has jumped the gun by welcoming Peter Georgiou into the fold.
So now the plot thickens. Will Georgiou enlist his brother in law, said Mr Culleton as his chief of staff as Rod had prefaced? How will that go over with Pauline? Is a declared bankrupt entitled to a paid political staffer role?
Given Georgiou is a sparkie by trade, with no parliamentary experience whatsoever, it could be an electrifying entry into the big red house. More so if Pauline takes off in the upcoming WA State elections, and pundits have One Nation support at up to 30%.
The Oz comments today that he is a different kettle of fish. Hard-working, humble tradie etc etc. Culleton seems to have a severs case of denial and I have no doubt that he will try to control the show.
It will indeed be interesting – as will the election in WA coming up.
Lets not forget the Motor Enthusiasts {arty senator who is no more – can’t remember his name, that’s how forgettable he was – was a complete novice too.
Fingers crossed, Yvonne.
Ricky Muir avon
That’s the one!
Ricky Muir. Took the gig seriously and turned out the be one of the best cross-benchers. Shows that we dont need the whole parliament to be full of lawyers.
RONG:-Rickey Muir and The Brick both grew in the job to be great Senators. Much better than half of the Clowns we have now. I hope they have another go.
Muir. maybe. but not the rugby player
Id vote for Muir if I had the opportunity.
Agree about Muir. I laughed along with everyone else at “Ricky-bobby” in the beginning, but he took the gig seriously, knew he had a lot to learn and set about learning it as best he could. Shows that ignorance is only a problem when coupled with arrogance and unjustified certainty. The really dangerous ones are convinced they already know everything and don’t think it’s even necessary to understand the issues. Cue Hanson, Culleton, Trump etc.
You have stolen my thunder on the hapless Rod, Lou, I have been posting regularly on his demise. Poor bastard, looks like Centrelink for him, although his Family may support him financially. Rodders will remember 2017 as his “annus horribilis”
30% could be a conservative number Lou. Many i speak to said they would be happy to vote one nation so the major parties in Canberra will be forced to remove the two idiots in charge of their respective chaotic rabble
Well the last bit won’t happen Robin. They’ll be queued up to dump a bucket of excreatment on Barnett on the way out.
He made no friends in his own party, let alone the other side. The age of entitlement is flat strap in WA now.
Hang on a minute?
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/clean-coal-would-push-up-power-bills-more-than-wind-solar-or-gas-analysts-20170203-gu4ow5.html
Dare I say it, but this is starting to look like it has the potential to be another “Godwin Grecher” for Turnbull.
Overall I think Turnbull should receive a boost for the way he handled this. There have been all manner of commentators saying what he should or should not have done. Always easier from the armchair. Let’s not forget that he is asking the US to clean up one of our own messes. There will be a price to pay for that. Still, if it comes to a choice between one of our leaders and one of someone else’s my sense of patriotism says I will support the local wallah. Not sure why others aren’t doing the same.
Tend to agree JTI, but the media are giving him a hell of a time over this. I think his insistence that the conversation is private is absolutely correct. Problem is, Trump didn’t!! I know Trump is trying not to lose face over having to take the detainees – I still think he may wiggle his way out of it – but the groundswell from the ultra right here and condemnation of MT is significant.?
Watching the Today Show this morning (as I am forced to do or have breakfast alone) they were in rabid mode (not unusual). Honestly, we go on about the ‘MSM’ but the Today crowd, and doubtless the Sunrise mob too, are populated by opinionated idiots who go feral at the slightest sniff of almost anything. Every ‘news’ story is followed by an editorial comment from whoever’s next to speak, chronically sanctimonious and explicitly condemning every evil company and government agency in sight for their incompetence. (Get out there and do it youself Karl. Without the trademark threatening stare, borrowed from Willisee.) This morning we had Lisa, wife of Bandana Boy, demanding to know what the NSW guvmint was going to about the stabbing crisis in our schools, based on the single incident at Bonnyrigg. I mean, I’m given to understand that she is actually an intelligent woman. You’d never know it watching this dross. And of course we have the obligatory crosses to Hadley, Mitchell or Karl’s idiot mate Gleeso. Oh, mornings…
But where am I going with this (next thing I’ll have Kathy after me)…I know – the meeja. They are confecting this whole US-Aus split beyond belief. It’s all a magnet of their effigmination as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know if any of them are intimately aware of what Trump and Hugh Trumble have been discussing, but I’m sure they’re not privy to much of it and the whole end-of-the-alliance thing is just pure journo imagination. Honestly – just report the news for once in your lives!
Anyhow, I can’t do anything about Trump so I’m just going to order a skipload of popcorn and sit back on the couch to watch. It beats MKR.
TV, I sense your frustration….well that is probably an understatement. These people think they are important and that their opinions matter. I recently picked up a women’s magazine here and apart from not having a clue who the television personalities were….OK I have been away for a long time,, but the main stars seemed to be from MKR, The Batchelor and some housewives show! And people still knock the ABC……sheesh
so very true. the chattering class that infests daytime brekky news leaves one with a hollow lump in your stomach as they try to prove that they are the dumbest roadkill on TV. Every station is the same including the ABC. As for MKR don’t talk about it.
I assiduously troll through the movie guide and record what programmes I would like to view the next day. It comes down to about 2-3 free to air shows a day.
I have subscribed to prime video for a few cents a week and can watch any show I like any time I like
gee i miss australian television.
thanks TV
I admire your fortitude in watching breakfast TV Triv!
A good one TV, I liked it a lot.
I’m waiting for Tony Abbott to crawl out of the woodwork, he can’t help himself.
Interesting that Trump takes tablets for his coiffure, I’d be asking for my money back.
Oh puhlease Tracy, Abbott didn’t start the termiting. He also would have shirt fronted the Trumpster. We need adults back in charge in Tony’s the man! I’d appreciate it if you got behind your local member.
ps I read Trump is starting to look like Warne, who in turn started to turn into Sam Newman. Sam’s face is the face of the future. Scary I know as he looks like he’d have trouble farting. and if he did it would raise an eyebrow or two.
Speaking of which, the big fight on tonight between two old farts. Not sure if I will venture out to see it as the last Mundine fight I saw at a pub started ridiculously late; certainly well past everyone’s drinking lips limit. That pub went through their record amount of kegs on the evening. Not surprisingly a few of the attendees tried to take it upon themselves to provide some pre-fight bouts as entertainment. Unfortunately this was frowned upon and they were taken off the card.
Shirtfront Trump! More likely he’d have gone into his temporary quivering paralysis routine.
Though I hear Vlad is still sh*tting bricks?
“I’m waiting for Tony Abbott to crawl out of the woodwork”
An unfortunate turn of phrase Tracy, if I may say so.
Lots of critters crawl out of the woodwork; from wood worms to woodpeckers. From tufted titmice to yellow-bellied sapsuckers. But never a Tony Abbott.
Unless you’re suggesting white ants ? Now there’s a contoversial thought.
Excellent stuff Mr C..
White ant. I don’t think woodpeckers, although Abbott has a skull like one, actually “come out” of the woodwork.
I LOLd on the tram at that one
Patriotism jJTI but also this deal with the USA is the best outcome that can be achieved for the refugees still in detention on the islands. Its been pretty puzzling to see so many people taking unnecessary shots over this. Turnbull is a disappointing dickhead but if these people can be freed – even in the USA – then that should be the priority.
Im happy to see the US administration taking flak for this. It gives Trump an idea of the price they will pay for pandering to thhis base. Politically, I think this will be an expensive lesson for him – and Im not sure how long the lesson will stay learned.
yep….heat….simmering…not so bad….
He can probably parley this into a win for himself–and hopefully the nation. It was not his mess, and he’s the one who has to clean it up. Unfair, but life at the top.
But, this predicament is all of Turnbull’s cackhandedness. On his visit to the US he didn’t even give Trump a call. Then, still anticipating a Clinton win, he held off on announcing this deal. Then he announced it days after the election, again without talking to the Trump camp. And let’s not forget his cringeworthy remarks the day after the election.
Let’s not forget Obama’s role in all of this Dwight. He was on the way out and probably should have left the decision to the winner – whoever it may have been.
Ridiculous comparison I know, but it kind of reminds me of the Vict govt. signing up for the East-West link when they knew they could be on the way out.
God only knows what will happen to the detainees if Trump squirms his way out. A report today says they are mostly economic refugees. If that is true, and it may well not be true, why were they not deported? Surely they have been screened long ago.
Whatever the case may be , they have now become the unfortunate pawns in a big, big game – and the people-smugglers are no doubt watching with renewed interest.
Watch it Dwight. If this thing turns into shooting war you’ll find yourself in an internment camp for remarks about our PM like that.
FWIW, IMO the lack of local support for Turnbull is at least partly because the hard Right want Abbott back, or worse, and so want to cane Turnbull just as much as the Left does, leaving only the dwindling ranks of moderate Liberals to stick up for him.
Mind you, Shorten and Plibersek were sort of sticking up for him today, but it was with barely-concealed glee and bordering on sarcasm.
The right is in the process of fracturing JOH. Any excuse. and it’s gloves on, battle lines drawn from the extreme right.
The threat from One Nation is real and the outcome of the WA election may give an indication of just how real it is.
This is more dangerous for Turnbull’s survival than the spat with Trump.
Another terrorist attack in Paris yesterday may get people opting for what they know though.
Absolutely agree Jack. I don’t know what people want. Turnbull’s deal will allow most of those in limbo on Nauru and Manus to finally get on with their lives. It also maintains the deterrence policy. Even more so now – who could imagine there will be a repeat.
He managed to hold Trump to it (at least for now) despite it being contrary to Trump’s reprehensible exclusion policy. I think the first to do so.
Seems to me Turnbull for once has shown himself to be the PM we all wanted when he took the job.
Hard to disagree that it’s a bad deal for the US, especially the optics for Trump, and a fantastic one for us, with the US tidying up one of our problems that looked like never going away. As you know it was of Obama’s making and old Trump has to wear it. Whether he does or not remains to be seen. The phonegate matter is mostly froth and bubble. Of course, being the Donald, there may be a bit of qui pro quo(?) involved. Personally i’d like to see us take in a lot more Venezualan’s of the female persuasion.
True international diplomat you are Milton.
If you need accommodation for said Venezuelan ladies, I’ve got two spare rooms. I’m sure the missus wouldn’t mind. Why we could even call it an exchange program.
Oh Milton!
That depends on what the US gets out of it. Theres more to this than a booby trap set for Mad Don.
You’d agree that it’s a great deal for Don if you knew what he is getting out of it. he protesteth too much!
Mike, my man in Washington tells me it includes asylum and guaranteed non extradition from a Gold Coast luxury safe house. Just in case the mugs wake up one day.
Chavez self identifies as an amazonian dominatrix….enjoy
He died.
ooh nasty
Trumbull is in trouble. A shell of his former self that’s is what happens when you sell out what you have previously stated are your held positions. Early election in 2018 I think.
Nah dismal he never was anything but a hollow shell. Thats why he got tossed out the first time. Makes you wonder whether Lucy was running the show behind his back when he made his millions banking
hope so
Life is sacred or it isn’t.
As a general rule, mine is, yours isn’t.
That’s step one in the reasoning process. Step two is realising everyone who believes step one can’t be right. Which brings us back to JB’s point.
Douglas Hofstadter explains it better than I could:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superrationality
Good answer. That’s a paradigm that could be changed with education.
That logic vaguely resemble’s Bush junior.
ps. just quietly, if you got a mate embedded in the Trump camp i’d be a little concerned, if you catch my drift!?
Your first vaguely resembles a sentence.
If we hold life to be so sacred that we kill a person for killing another then we diminish the notion of life as being sacred. Capital punishment is vengeful and atavistic.
Each murder, in my opinion, should be seen as failure of society and all of us.
If we applied ourselves to teaching awe and respect for life with it’s proper due there would be fewer murders. That proper due respect includes an understanding that if one of us murders then we are banished o imprisonment with no possibility of ever returning to society.
it aint
Perhaps, perhaps not. But that’s not answer I would give to a wild eyed man asking the question while waving a shotgun in my general direction.
the left wingers last century killed a starved 100s of millions last century trying to prove socialism works
You want a history deaths deliberately engineered by conservatives?
That no doubt assumes Mao Ze Dong was a ‘left winger”. The problem with that analysis is that its pretty random. If Mao was a left winger how come he killed so many “left wingers” during his march to leadership of the party? What really happened to Lin Biao? Why were the people who we would think of as lefties purged after the Lushan conference? (after being tricked into expressing their true opinions in the belief that Mao actually wanted to know what they really thought – he did. And then he killed them for it). why is it all the “leftie” professions and academics were attacked at the outbreak of the cultural revolution and those have never recovered. Why is it that all the leading chinese political refugees that resulted from Tiananmen square are all regarded as lefties in the west (and liu xiaobo – China’s Nelson Mandela and leading human rights activist – continues to linger in a jail in Jinzhiou?).
labelling stuff left and right is all very well, Robin, but that labelling obscures the truth. Im pretty sure you know bugger all about China and Chinese history, including its modern history. Mao could be labelled a right winger or a left winger, depending on the perspective of the viewer. To me, and millions of Chinese, he was a right winger. But that label is meaningless because it is too subjective to be of any use – except when ignorant people want to sling of in silly “left wing/right wing” arguments.
In the end it’s always about power. Always.
OTA… but awks
https://www.domain.com.au/news/san-franciscos-750m-millennium-tower-is-sinking-who-will-pay-for-it-20170202-gu45q7/